A team representing Fiji will participate in New South Wales Rugby League's (NSWRL) Ron Massey Cup in 2020.
The new team, which will be named the Kaiviti Silktails, was announced on Friday as part of a joint initiative between rugby league's governing bodies in New South Wales and Fiji to create opportunities for young Fijian players to further their careers.
The new club will also receive Australian government funding over the next four years.
New South Wales Rugby League chairman George Peponis said the announcement represents a major step forward for the sport in Fiji.
“Fiji has provided our game with plenty of exciting players over the decades and it’s a wonderful initiative to now have a direct pathway to help them pursue a Rugby League career," Peponis told NSWRL.com.
It is expected that the team will shift to the Canterbury Cup NSW competition in the future.